Compare towns
Lancaster vs Athol vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Lancaster | Athol | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Lowest |
12,011Highest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226 35% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #107 of 120 in NH | #256 of 282 in MA | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Athol-Royalston | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.